Anne, Lady Dodd and Tony Nicholson, Sir Ken’s biographer, share special stories, memories and screen clips about the comedy legend.
Join Anne, Lady Dodd, and Tony in conversation for a celebration of Doddy’s life and talent, in the iconic Library Reading Room of the Athenaeum in the heart of Liverpool.
Saturday 28th November 2026
The Athenaeum, 12-18 Church Alley
Liverpool L1 3DD
1.00pm – 2.30pm
Tony has been a lifelong Ken Dodd fan. His book, Ken Dodd: The Squire of Knotty Ash and his Lady, gives Doddy’s many fans the first ever in-depth account of his astonishing story. It changes everything you thought you knew about the fascinating, kind and complicated private person behind the great man. And now, Tony has produced a DVD of hilarious unseen recordings of Sir Ken Dodd on stage, in his legendary laughter show, ‘Happiness’, found and restored after 30 years. As Ken’s most loyal fan, Anne shares the definitive Ken Dodd story with his many supporters, revealing the human side of the comedy superstar who became her husband.
A truly special afternoon is in store for all Doddy fans, including a special screening of clips from the ‘Happiness’ DVD, and audience Q&A.
There will be a chance to buy signed copies of Ken Dodd: The Squire of Knotty Ash and his Lady and The Ken Dodd Happiness Show DVD.
Tony Nicholson started his showbiz career in the 1970s as a comedy scriptwriter, writing jokes for The Two Ronnies. He then became a television producer, making entertainment programmes for all the major channels, and earning him a highly-prized BAFTA Award.
Anne, Lady Dodd, née Sybil Anne Jones, had her own showbusiness career, which started before she even met Ken. In the sixties, she was a dancer with the legendary Bluebell Girls on TV in Rome. Subsequently this troupe appeared for a Christmas season at The Manchester Opera House, where Ken Dodd was topping the bill. They met and started a friendship which lasted fifty six years and would blossom into a loving relationship and eventual marriage.
A Smithdown Litfest event supported by the Research for Literature and Cultural History at Liverpool John Moores University.